In 2016, YDR’s editorial board caught up with Gov. Tom Wolf to talk about the first half of his term in office. At one point, we asked him what grade he would give himself.

“I’m a hard grader,” he said. “Maybe a B or C.”

At the time, the governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature were feuding like the Hatfields and the McCoys. Budget impasses dragged on interminably. It was open political war.

Our editorial board was a hard grader, too. We gave him a midterm C. Mainly because he couldn’t find ways to reach reasonable compromises with a recalcitrant Legislature. That wasn’t to say he wasn’t correct in many of the areas of disagreement. But he wasn't effective.

Now we’re at the end of the semester, and he’s facing a final grade from voters.

We recently met with the governor and asked again what grade he would give himself.

“I would give myself a good grade,” he said.

How good? Do you mean a B or a C?

“A good grade.”

He wouldn’t come right out and say it, but it seems like he’s giving himself an A.

That stands to reason. He’s running for re-election. And indeed, he has brought his grade up significantly since the midterm.

We’d give him an A-.

The state’s finances are in much better shape. He can point to improvements in government efficiency. His administration is super ethical compared to previous regimes (gift bans, etc.). The state’s absurd liquor system has been reformed (though it really should be privatized). We now have medical marijuana.

But you’d never guess that if you listened to his opponent, fellow York countian Scott Wagner, who depicts the state as a hellish wasteland of overregulation and out-of-control spending.

He’s right, of course, that things could be better. But they ARE better under Gov. Wolf.

And if we had to give Mr. Wagner a grade?

As a legislator, he wouldn’t even get a grade. He’s a dropout, having quit on his constituents to run for governor (he dropped out of community college, too, by the way). At best, he would get an “Incomplete.”

(As an aside, it was appalling to see Mr. Wagner blaming Gov. Wolf for the Legislature’s failure to pass reforms recommended by the Catholic Church grand jury. Um, it was the Senate that stood in the way of the reforms – and he quit the Senate. Where was his leadership when we really needed it?)

Yes, Mr. Wagner has had a meteoric rise since being the first legislative write-in winner in state history. Yes, he makes some good points about government spending and efficiency.

But has he been effective in passing reforms?

No.

There is not a piece of major legislation he can take credit for as a prime sponsor that made its way into law.

Mostly, he’s just been a windbag and a bully.

This style has worked surprisingly well for Donald Trump in gaining election. That’s not what we want to see in a governor, though.

Shaking things up is one thing, but doing a Facebook live video in which he threatened the governor with a golf-spike stomping? That’s beyond the pale. And it’s just the tip of the intemperate iceberg for Mr. Wagner – who has made a political career of saying and doing ill-advised things.

He gets at best a C- as a candidate. This cut-rate Trump is just not governor material.

Gov. Wolf still has room for improvement, but he’s done a good job in a very difficult political climate.

Debate moderator Alex Trebek, of Jeopardy!, asks the audience to raise their hands if they already know who they are voting for in the state Governor's race prior to the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Governor Tom Wolf, a democrat from York County, gives his opening remarks prior to a debate against Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Audience members watch during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. The debate was between Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner and incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, both of York County. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, a democrat from York County, left, speaks while Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, right, watches during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Both are from York County. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Alex Trebek, of "Jeopardy!," left, speaks with incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, middle, and Republican challenger and former State Sen. Scott Wagner during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Scott Wagner, right, former state Sen. and Republican challenger for Governor, responds to Gov. Tom Wolf during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, left, speaks with challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, both of York County, during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

While discussing pensions, Republican challenger and former state Sen. Scott Wagner, right, gestures playing a violin during the gubernatorial debate at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Republican challenger for governor and former state Sen. Scott Wagner gives his closing remarks following a debate against Gov. Tom Wolf at Hershey Lodge on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record